Recently the Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously approved Right to Repair legislation. The legislation seeks to reconcile two state laws that require car companies to provide independent repair shows and car owners full access to service information, tools and software to maintain and repair late model vehicles.
The first law passed in Massachusetts was a compromise by the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition and the vehicle manufacturers, and passed in July but was approved too late to remove a ballot measure. That ballot measure was approved in November 2012 creating two Right to Repair laws on the books in Massachusetts.
While the two laws were similar there were some differences that needed to be reconciled. Differences include two different deadlines for car companies to provide their diagnostic software through a cloud that utilizes a standardized vehicle interface as well as the type of vehicles included in the laws.
The reconciliation bill will now go to the state Senate. Both car companies and AAIA have called for the legislature to act on the reconciliation measure before the body adjourns for the year later this week.
Next week New Jersey will take up legislation that would move Right to Repair to a voter referendum, according to the AASA. Both the AASA and MEMA have urged the New Jersey legislature to await the 50-state agreement in an effort to provide a uniform program.
